Chester FC will look back on this as an opportunity missed as they failed to turn their dominance in possession into anything meaningful during a 0-0 draw with bottom of the table FC United of Manchester.

The attacking prowess shown at the weekend was nowhere to be seen as the Blues failed to break down a very ordinary United side in an error strewn game where misplaced passes and clearances were in plentiful supply while there was a dearth of clear cut chances.

And while Craig Mahon had two shouts for a penalty waved away, it was hard to argue the case that either side deserved the three points.

Having had to wait 35 days to get a game on at the Swansway Chester Stadium, the Blues were back on home turf for the second time in four days following their 5-3 success over Bradford (Park Avenue) at the weekend.

Anthony Johnson and Bernard Morley opted to keep faith with the same side that earned the three points at the weekend, although there were recalls to the bench for Gary Roberts, back after a ban, and Danny Livesey, who was returning following concussion suffered at AFC Telford United.

FC United came into the game sitting bottom of the National League North after five losses in their opening eight games and an interim manager in the dugout in the guise of Dave Chadwick following the resignation earlier in the month of player/boss Tom Greaves.

The visitors did have a danger man in their ranks as Football League scouts aplenty, including Wigan Athletic manager Paul Cook, took their seats to cast an eye over 21-year-old striker Kurt Willoughby, who had netted four times coming into the clash at the Deva.

Chester started the game at a high tempo and were looking to move the ball quickly through the final third with Jon Moran steering a header just wide from a Dan Mooney corner on two minutes before Mooney teed up Anthony Dudley in the box three minutes later with United keeper David Carnell denying him at the near post.

At the other end the dangerous Willoughby crashed an angled effort against the foot of Grant Shenton's post from an acute angle before Mahon tried his luck at the other end, sending low effort from 18 yards fizzing just past the United goal.

But the danger signs were there at the other end just moments later when Willoughby broke free down the right and dragged a shot across the face of goal.

And the same player sent a 20-yard effort just wide on 16 minutes when, with United in the ascendancy, he looked to round off a flowing counter attack that had left the Blues exposed.

The visitors were proving a tough nut to crack and looking threatening on the counter attack as they probed a Blues back line that had looked vulnerable on Saturday.

But Chester felt hard done to just after the half hour mark when Mahon pounced on some hesitancy in the United defence and broke into the box before taking a tumble under pressure, with referee Steve Copeland waving away the winger's protests.

Chester's best move of the half came on 35 minutes when Matty Hughes threaded a lovely ball through to Dudley who skipped a challenge on the edge of the box to make himself room but he could only tamely sidefoot at Carnell when well placed.

Hughes then volleyed over after a Mooney corner was only partially cleared by the United defence.

But the fluidity of Chester's attacking play on Saturday was missing and they were stifled time and again by a narrow FC United side who were always looking to counter.

HALF TIME: CHESTER 0 FC UNITED 0

The second half started slowly with neither side taking the game by the scruff of the neck, with Billy Priestley's back post header from a corner that flew over the bar for the visitors as close as anyone came in the opening 10 minutes of action.

Chester did eventually start to get themselves forward and Hughes sent a 25-yard free kick over Carnell's crossbar on the hour mark before Mooney drove into the box and sent an effort inches wide minutes later.

The game was desperately lacking in quality from both sides and littered with shanked clearance and misplaced passes making for a less than thrilling encounter, albeit one that Chester were dominating possession in without being able to make any headway.

Mahon and Mooney made way for John Pritchard and Luke Jordan, but neither was able to get Chester firing and moving through the gears in attack.

Mahon had a second shout for a penalty turned down after he appeared to be felled in the box, but Mr Copeland waved away the protests once again.

Hughes, who worked tirelessly all game for little reward, dragged a shot just wide of Carnell's left hand post as Chester tried to muster a grandstand finish.

Pritchard fired over in injury time and had a 25 yard free kick saved before the proceedings were brought to a close.

It wasn't pretty and the Blues will look back on this as an opportunity missed but it is three games unbeaten and a clean sheet at least.